On Monday, July 23, 2017, the US Equestrian Federation (USEF) Board of Directors approved the recommendation to allocate the designation of an additional United States eventing CCI4* competition in 2019 to Fair Hill International. In January 2017, the Board of Directors narrowed the list of five applicants to two and following that decision spent several months researching, meeting with Organizing Committees and conducting additional site visits.
The USEF CCI4* Task Force worked tirelessly toward making a decision between two very strong applicants, Fair Hill International (Elkton, Md.) and Great Meadow International (The Plains, Va.), which are important fixtures on the eventing calendar in the U.S. The Task Force applauds both Organizing Committees for their cooperation and commitment throughout this process. The recommendation for Fair Hill International will be put forward to the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) for consideration this autumn. The date will be approved as part of the 2019 FEI calendar after review by the USEF Calendar Approval process.
The plans for the Fair Hill redevelopment are extensive, and this event will be the premiere feature at a brand new venue. A state-of-the-art multi-use venue is under development in Elkton, Md., featuring eventing, racing and steeplechase racing. This is a unilateral effort between the Fair Hill Foundation, Maryland Horse Industry Board, Maryland Sports Commission and the Cecil County Government.
Additional information regarding the new development plans for Fair Hill International are available at www.fairhill4star.com.
With 2025 just days away, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the top moments for the USEA across the 2024 season. Take a trip down memory lane with us and relive these high-performing moments from our online news, the USEA Podcast, and our Instagram account!
Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.